Pixel 9 Pro Fold: A Strong Competitor to the Galaxy Z Fold5, But Is It Worth the High Price?

Google recently unveiled its latest foldable phone, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, featuring significant upgrades in design, display, and AI technology. This model is touted to offer a superior user experience and is poised to compete aggressively in the premium foldable phone segment.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts an entirely new design, distinct from its predecessor. It’s larger in size yet lighter in weight, providing a comfortable grip. The frame is made of aluminum with a satin finish, paired with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, creating a premium and durable look. While it has IPX8 water resistance, the lack of dust resistance is a potential drawback to consider.

One of the biggest improvements in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is its display. The 6.3-inch outer AMOLED screen is more spacious, making it easier to use when folded. When unfolded, users are treated to an 8-inch Super Actua Flex display with a brightness of up to 2,700 nits—double that of the previous model—offering exceptional visibility even in bright light.

For photography, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is equipped with a 48MP main camera, a 10.5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and 20x digital zoom. Both the inner and outer displays feature 10MP selfie cameras. The device also inherits several smart photography features from the Pixel 9 series.

Google has integrated advanced AI features into the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, with Gemini Live standing out as a key highlight, allowing users to interact naturally with AI without using a wake word. Features like Pixel Studio for creating and editing images on demand, and photography enhancements like ‘Add Me’ and ‘Made You Look,’ further optimize the user experience.

Notably, the AI capabilities of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can operate directly on the device, thanks to the built-in Gemini Nano LLM, enabling fast processing without needing cloud connectivity. Additionally, users receive one year of free access to the Google One AI Premium Plan, which includes Gemini’s premium features.

Powered by the latest Google Tensor G4 processor, along with 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold delivers robust performance, meeting all user needs. Despite its slightly smaller 4,650 mAh battery compared to the previous version, it still supports 45W fast charging and 15W wireless charging, ensuring continuous use.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is available in two colors: Obsidian and Porcelain. The starting price is $1,799 for the 256GB version and $1,999 for the 512GB version. The device will officially go on sale on September 4th.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is set to be one of the top choices in the foldable phone market in 2024, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold6 and other smartphones from various brands. However, its high price and some limitations, such as a smaller battery and lack of dust resistance, might be drawbacks for discerning users.